New leak suggests the Samsung Galaxy S5 might have a fingerprint scanner after all

Our friend @evleaks just posted a little teaser for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5. Really, it’s not much in terms of hard evidence, just a Android app from the upcoming device titled “FingerprintService.apk.” If true, this implies that recent rumors of Samsung ditching their “eye-scanning” security software in favor of a more traditional fingerprint scanning were true. Not much to go on, but something to consider. What do y’all think?

But I’m sure once Samsung puts one on their phone, you’ll be saying “omg it’s so great!” Heh…fanboys

PacMan

apple just couldn’t come up with anything original

https://plus.google.com/108596272537415356460/posts Jason Farrell

Not interested in a fingerprint scanner at all. If it’s on the S5 or Note4, I probably won’t be buying Samsung for my next upgrade.

filaos

Not buying a device… because of an added functionality… weird !

Mark Wheeler

Some people take their hatred to extremes.

https://plus.google.com/108596272537415356460/posts Jason Farrell

Hate? My last 3 devices in a row have been Samsung.

https://plus.google.com/108596272537415356460/posts Jason Farrell

It’s a gimmick, and unlike Touchwhiz’s s/w gimmicks I can’t just install CM to get rid of it.

filaos

Are you kidding or just awfully biased ?
Something people use 50 times A DAY, every time they unlock their phone, is hardly a gimmick.
:-) fanboys are funny.

https://plus.google.com/108596272537415356460/posts Jason Farrell

The Atrix had one, and it was waste-of-space gimmick too.

And besides, I use a better unlock scheme: When I’m home I have Tasker+SecureSettings set no lockscreen, and when I’m not home it automatically switches to pattern. This is a feature that should’ve built into Android IMO.

Delmar

He’s the Dude

worldclassflame

I
Got an iPhone 5s for work and I gotta say , it works really well pretty much seemless, I thought it would be more of a gimmick but there is a certain level of convenience to it

LOL, you do know that Apple copied the fingerprint scanner from another phone, don’t you!

Mark Wheeler

We’ve all heard that talking point but nobody ever talks about how well it worked. Probably because it was a Chinese brand phone that didn’t sell a lot. I have a 5s the fingerprint scanner works real good.

Josh Holtrust

Apple did not copy the Atrix. The Atrix had a swipe style scanner that SUCKED. I had an Atrix. It was not good. The fingerprint scanner on the iPhone is a press and hold style and works flawlessly every time. Big difference. If Samsung is going to implement a fingerprint scanner, I hope it will work as well as the one on the 5S.

Wayne

OK, so Apple may not of copied the technology but they copied the idea of using a fingerprint to unlock a device. I have also seen a lot of films where a fingerprint is used in a press and hold fashion to open a door. I guess that it does not count if it was just in a film.

spicymeatball

No Apple didn’t invent a lot of things, but their implementations are flawless which cause them to get all the credit. I hate Apple!

Don_SoLow

Sooo what does that make HTC?

hideeho100

well, I guess it will be an easy way for the US and Korean governments to fill up their databases of personal fingerprints. Why don’t people see a problem with some of this gimmic tech used to give you a stupid game on exchange for a lifetime of privacy violations?

Josh Holtrust

Don’t know about Samsung, but on the iPhone, your fingerprint is stored ONLY on your device. And it actually doesn’t even store an image of your fingerprint. It isn’t sent to Apple, or anyone else for that matter. And it’s not a gimmick, it keeps your phone secure and is much faster than entering a password. Now you can be as paranoid as you want to, and not believe it, but it’s the truth.

RussianDroid

It’s about as fast as entering a pin + convenience factor.

Mark Wheeler

Sometimes it’s faster, sometimes I get a real good read and barely even see my lock screen. But most of the time it’s slightly faster

Josh Holtrust

It’s faster than entering a pin, because there is no pin process. You press the button and you’re on your home screen. There’s barely any time in between. I guess I shouldn’t have said it’s “much” faster, but it completely eliminates the pin process. I love it and I hope it does come to Android devices because it really is a useful thing. I just hope the manufacturers will implement it as well as Apple

rich_bown

My problem with it is that it is LESS secure then the PIN that it replaces. It can be used whilst the owner is asleep, passed out or otherwise incapacitated.
Also if my PIN (or lock pattern) becomes compromised in some way (and fingerprints have already been cloned from imprints to bypass ios security – not easily I grant you but it has been done) I can simply change it. How about those fingerprints?

RussianDroid

In theory you are right and i agree with you. Once fingerprint is compromised it cannot be changed, that is why it’s not being used as a sole means to secure anything important in Gov or Corp environments.

Apple assures that it is impossible to clone or even read the fingerprint data off the chip. As everybody should know, nothing is impossible especially when it comes to IT, and as mentioned has been done already. I wish more apps put an option for a password on opening the app.

Personally im ok with the idea of fingerprint scanners on the phones, i don’t care for it at all but I’m not against it and will continue using passwords.

rich_bown

“I wish more apps put an option for a password on opening the app.”
Don’t know about iOS but there are a ton of android apps that do exactly this. You select the apps or all that you want to password protect to open.

RussianDroid

Yes, I am aware of that and use AppLock on my Note3. However I also have an iPad and my gf has iPad mini alongside her android phone and I’m not aware of any apps that have the same functionality. I suppose I should have said I wish the app developers were putting those functions in all their apps regardless of os.

Josh Holtrust

It doesn’t really replace it. You can turn TouchID off and just use a PIN like before. But yes, you are right, someone could use your finger while you’re asleep. I personally don’t have to worry about that as I don’t typically fall asleep or pass out with anyone I don’t know.. lol :P

hideeho100

I work in info security. The fingerprint is not a picture, it is an algorithm that changes your fingerprint into data and is then encrypted. However, you cannot crack it today, but I will be able to get your fingerprint data 2-10,years from now. either when the tech is fast enough to break the algorithm, or when the government passes a law to require companies collect and supply it to them. I am not worried about today. It is tomorrow I worry about… People once thought 56K encryption was unbreakable less than 10 years ago. Now, I am pretty sure it is easy to get your hands on software that cracks 56K encryption as I have read articles on it. Don’t be tech naive people. Anything digitally encrypted can be cracked with the right people, resources, motivation, and time.

JulianZH

Always will be apple follower.

Don_SoLow

Then what is HTC? They were the first to copy. And what about Apple copying the Atrix?? Or what about the Atrix copying from HP Laptops??? Or HP copying every secret agent movie ever????
People are so ignorant.

PacMan

Unless its on the screen like rumored I don’t want it.

rich_bown

My problem with fingerprints is that it is LESS secure then the PIN that it
replaces. It can be used whilst the owner is asleep, passed out or
otherwise incapacitated.
Also if my PIN (or lock pattern) becomes
compromised in some way (and fingerprints have already been cloned from
imprints to bypass ios security – not easily I grant you but it has
been done) I can simply change it. How about those fingerprints?

Personally I prefer to use my pebble smartwatch as a trusted device, if it’s connected the lock screen is bypassed. If entering a PIN is too timeconsuming for users (and fingerprints aren’t as secure) then I would recommend this method to others.

vinnyjr

Hoping the new SGS5 comes with a minimum of 32gb of int memory with sd-card of course.